A COMMUNITY group at the heart of the long-running Havre des Pas Lido saga have pulled out of the tender process to run and operate the site.
The Love Our Lido group had been seeking to take ownership of the business operations at the Lido, but, in an email seen by the JEP, said the proposed government-funding was “wholly insufficient”.
Governors Giles Robson, Matt Falla and Sally Minty-Gravett informed Jersey Business of the group’s withdrawal from the process earlier this week claiming that Love Our Lido had “no surety” over running costs and that some of the group’s concerns could not be overcome in the “short timeframe required for lease signing”.
The future of the Lido sparked public protests late last year when, after being given preferred bidder status, Love Our Lido lost out to First Point Property Services – which specialises in events and property management, and is currently involved in the running of La Frégate.
It subsequently emerged that there had been failings within the tender process, prompting Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan to restart the bidding.
The main point of contention for Love Our Lido centred on the amount of government funding that would be provided to the new operator.
The government has consistently stuck to its £60,000-a-year figure. But, Love Our Lido estimated that it would need closer to £200,000.
In its email to Jersey business, the governors said: “I hope that it is clear how committed we remain to Havre des Pas Bathing Pools and ensuring that it continues to be managed in accordance with the original wishes of the Jersey Swimming Club.
“We have grave fears that the government’s wish to underfund this site to save money will only lead to it falling into disrepair and becoming a danger to the public of Jersey that use it daily. The only losers will be the people of Jersey, the owners of the site, who clearly asked for one outcome and are being delivered the exact polar opposite outcome.”
Speaking to the JEP, Mrs Minty-Gravett accused the government of failing to act in the best interests of the public.
“The Lido belongs to the public of Jersey,” she said. “Because of what government have done, they got the polar opposite of what the people wanted, which is tragic.
“I don’t think the government listened to the people of Jersey.”
Deputy David Warr, who has been championing a community takeover of the lido site, said there had been several meetings between Jersey Business and Love Our Lido, but that government were “not prepared to move” on the amount they would subsidise the site operator.
He also said that Love Our Lido would have struggled to fulfil its aims of becoming a charity if it started out in a financial deficit.
The St Helier Deputy said the difference in financial expectations were “a significant gap to make up” that could not have been overcome without the tender terms being changed.
With Love Our Lido out of the race, commercial operator First Point is expected to take over the bathing pools site, having sat in the “reserve bidder” spot during the community group’s negotiations.
Deputy Warr said he wished First Point “good luck on the site” and added that he hoped the pools would be of a standard “that the public is proud of”.
“I hope they do a good job,” he said. “I appreciate they are taking a massive commercial risk.”
Deputy David Warr had lodged a States proposition which would have, if approved, forced the government to sign an agreement with Love Our Lido, while pledging £170,000 annual funding towards maintenance of the pool. In light of the community group’s decision, the proposition, which had been due to be debated next month, will be withdrawn.
